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Is there a dish that just brings you back to a time and place? Everyone has comfort foods, but not every dish is truly special. When I was in my twenties, I lived on my own for the first time. I was super poor, but extremely proud of my first place. I ran across a sale on cookbooks from the UK. They had all sorts of interesting recipes I never heard of before. That’s where I found Beef Kofta.

I was determined to take these recipes and make them kosher. Obviously, that wasn’t always possible, but considering a lot of them were English adaptations of Asian dishes, more often than not, I could make them work. From these cookbooks I created an entire menu for kosher for Passover Indian Dinner that I called Slumdog Pesach. I hosted Slumdog Pesach several times over, and Beef Kofta was always the star dish out of them all.

This beef kofta dish melts in your mouth and sticks to your ribs. It’s the kind of dish that you want seconds and thirds, but have to be careful – it can be a bit heavy! The flavors and smells of beef kofta brings be back to a time of utter independence. No significant other, no children, just a couple of dogs and a belief that I could do anything. Seriously, the level of my confidence is stunning when I think back on it. I can’t imagine my life without my husband and son, but often think about that 26-year-old young woman and wonder what happened to her?

What’s better than a bundt cake? I mean, I love making these extravagant layer cakes – LOVE! It’s an art. It takes skill. But sometimes, you just don’t have the time to do artwork. Or maybe you did, and it just didn’t turn out. Hello, bundt cake! Even better, let’s boogie with a chocolate chip bundt cake. Mix the ingredients, pour in a bundt pan, bake. It looks beautiful!

Of course, I wouldn’t mind getting a gorgeous bundt pan (hint, hint, husband). But even without one, some powdered sugar sprinkled on top or a simple drizzle will make your cake look extra special.

Something that’s also nice about a good bundt is that it looks great under a domed cake plate. So you don’t necessarily need to put it in the refrigerator, making the cake dry out. And finally, the best part of a bundt? It travels well. No fear of buttercream getting everywhere or layers toppling. That’s why I’m posting this two days before Thanksgiving. Face it. You got invited someplace, you offered to bring dessert, and you are seriously thinking about stopping by Trader Joe’s. Don’t do it. This is simple enough, and everyone will sing your praises.

Adding sour cream to a cake it a great way to get that tangy buttermilk flavor without the heaviness. It keeps things moist and somewhat light, especially important when using chocolate chips, which has been known to dry out baked goods. This chocolate chip bundt cake is the perfect comfort food, and familiar to everyone – a real crowd-pleaser!

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla.

Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined. Mix in half of the sour cream, followed by another 1/3 of the dry ingredients, until just combined. Mix in the remaining sour cream, followed by the remaining dry ingredients, scraping down the bowl as necessary and mixing until just combined.

Gently mix in the chocolate chips.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.

Let the cake cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then invert onto the rack and allow to cool completely. Carefully transfer the cooled cake to a plate.

I was excited about the LuLaRoe Noir Collection.

I took pre-order requests. My spreadsheet was thoughtfully put together with care. It wasn’t a lot, but it was a big deal to my customers, and when they win, I win. Like the majority of LuLaRoe retailers, I did not get any pieces of the Noir collection when it was released, but when the LuLaRoe Noir Collection pieces just showed up as available on Wednesday night, I was able to snag a good amount. Unfortunately, we later learned that the last-minute availability was in fact a computer glitch, and those orders were cancelled.

There were a lot of inner-company events that took place in that amount of time, and many things were not handled well. Surely, there is a lot of chatter among retailers and a lot of feelings. I validate those feelings. I’ve definitely had some of my own.

In my previous blogs posts, I make no bones about my love for the clothes. I love the way they fit, I love the way they feel, I love the way they are made with real women in mind and I am blown away every time I see a woman try on a piece of LuLaRoe for the very first time and know she looks beautiful. At the same time, my business has never been about Mark and DeAnne Stidham or any of the mentors or big sellers or the pep rallies or whatever it is people get into this business for.

My business has always been, and always will be, about you.

This business is a relationship between you and me, shop patron and shop owner. As such, these are my commitments to my customers:

I am deeply passionate about helping women reclaim their beauty. I want you to love every single piece you purchase from me.

While I may reward large orders with special promotions, I will never make you buy an item you don’t want in order to buy an item you do want.

I will do my very best to respond to every question as soon as I am able.

I will honor my LuLaRoe Noir Collection pre-order list in the order the requests were made. As black items come in, I will privately message those next in line on the list.

You will never be “just a number” to me. I make every effort to get to know you, your preferences, and treat you like an actual VIP.

Let me make this crystal clear.

As a customer, you should never feel like “just a number” to a LuLaRoe retailer. No matter how large someone’s VIP group is, you should always be treated with the utmost respect and the highest level of customer service. No one should hold your desired items hostage because you aren’t willing to shell out hundreds of dollars for other items you don’t need or want.

I am here, and I am in business because of you. I am a small retailer, and I work tirelessly for your loyalty. If you would like to join my LuLaRoe VIP group, it would be my honor to serve you. You can do so by clicking here: lulamiri.com.

Low on cash, time and skills? This pan-fried chicken recipe has got your number! Confession: I’m not a chicken thigh lover. I’m just not. I can enjoy a chicken leg every once in a while, but for the most part, I’m a chicken breast sort of girl. However, I love the way dark meat pieces look when seared in a cast iron pan. It’s so elegant-looking, and yet it has that farmhouse chic thing going for it.

That said, I was pleasantly surprised by this dish! I love a vinegary flavor, and it does a great job at tenderizing the meat. Best of all, it’s made of chicken thighs, wings and legs – the cheapest part of the chicken! In the kosher world, that’s a big deal.

Now I’m going to be real with you people. And I mean really real. More often than not, we’re baking a frozen pizza for dinner? Why? It takes almost no effort, no prep, done in 20 minutes and our two-year-old will eat it. Also, we can still say we are eating a home-cooked meal for whatever it’s worth. However, on those days when we want to feel like real adults eating a real home-cooked meal, pan-fried chicken is a great go-to dish. And if we chop up the meat in just the right way, our toddler might eat it.

If you need a grown up rescue dish every once in a while (like I do), pin this pan-fried chicken pic below!

Turn the chicken legs skin side down on a work surface and cut halfway through the joint. Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper.

In cast iron pan, heat half of the margarine and oil. Add the chicken, skin side up, and cook over high heat until browned, 5 minutes. Turn and cook the chicken for 1 minute. Set chicken aside on a plate.

In the same cast iron pan, cook the leeks over high heat until just beginning to soften. Add the broth and vinegar and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper.

Set the chicken on the leeks, skin side up; roast for about 25 minutes, until it is cooked through. Turn on the broiler and broil for about 2 minutes, until the skin is golden and crisp.

Transfer the chicken to a platter.

Place the cast iron pan over a burner and boil over high heat until the liquid is reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add the peas, herbs and coconut creme and simmer until the sauce is hot and slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the sauce over the chicken and serve.

A few weeks ago, Forbes released an article about how LuLaRoe has grown at a staggering rate over the past four years. Meanwhile, other brick and mortar retail clothing brands are seriously struggling. Analysts are asking the question “why is LuLaRoe popular” when Payless, Bebe, The Limited, Abercrombie & Fitch, Guess, American Apparel, Macy’s and many more are closing stores across the country. Forbes had some clues. They wrote that the combo of having a personalized shopping experience from someone you can have a personal relationship with while buying clothes made for real women is a smashing combination. But when people ask me “why is LuLaRoe popular?” I believe there’s more to it than that.

Women are dictating fashion to the brand, rather than the brand dictating fashion to them.

In traditional retail, Fashion Week signals to brands what the coming trends are, the brands choose their colors and pieces based on those trends, then tell their customers “this is the new style – this is what you have to choose from this season.” In contrast, LuLaRoe created a certain number classic styles, and differentiates them through colors, patterns and fabrics. They hear from the retailers what people are requesting: More solids! More black! More lux fabrics! V-necks! And you know what? They listen!

Women would rather stick to a style that works in a large variety of colors and prints than several styles that all fit differently.

Trying on a new style is anxiety-inducing. Will it fit my shoulders? Will the neckline go too low or the hemline too high? And when you find something you absolutely love, it may only come in three colors. LuLaRoe does limited runs of prints and fabrics, which means when you buy a LuLaRoe item, not only are you getting something somewhat unique, you have opportunities to buy that same item in many different iterations.

The surprise, the hunt and the urgency.

LuLaRoe is like a box of chocolates – you never knew what you’re going to get! The retailer doesn’t know, and the customer doesn’t know. That’s why “Shop the Box” live sales are so fun. Each item the retailer brings out is a total surprise for everyone. Talk about entertainment! That said, if a customer likes an item, she better claim it right then and there. The retailer can’t order another one, and she doesn’t know if it will ever show up again.

Plus-size women are not forgotten.

Most popular retail apparel stores in the mall only make their clothes up to size 14. That leaves out a little less than half of the American women population (with cash in their hands). And even if a retailer makes plus size clothing, is it actually designed with plus size women in mind? My very best customers are plus size. In fact, I carry twice as much TC (tall & curvy) leggings than my OS (one size) leggings, because plus size women simply buy more leggings. Even more, women of all sizes can shop together. No one is alienated. Same styles, same prices.

Waistbands. Yes, waistbands.

LuLaRoe leggings have high, yoga-pant-like waistbands. They sit high enough that you don’t have to worry about them creeping or rolling down, and the wide soft band at the top doesn’t pinch or feel uncomfortable. The Cassie (pencil skirt) has the same yoga-pant waist band. The other skirts, Madison, Lola and Jill, all have elastic waistbands that actually look nice on their own! No need to hide the elastic with a belt. I’ve seen other brands try to do something similar with their skirts, but unfortunately the elastic waistband just doesn’t look as classy as what LuLaRoe has come up with.

Reclaiming pretty after surrendering to athleisure.

When I was pregnant with my son, there were endless memes on Facebook about moms in yoga pants. I was led to believe that athleisure was my fate, and when I actually had my son, I understood. I simply did not have patience for anything but yoga pants. LuLaRoe understood that for the majority of adult women with families, form MUST follow function. The ultimate unicorn was an outfit a woman could wear to work, church, at the park, out to lunch with friends and feel no need at the end of the day to take it off for something more comfortable. These are clothes for living your life the way you actually live it.

What did Forbes get wrong?

Forbes really got it wrong when they said that LuLaRoe fashion was really only appealing to middle America as the brand was not as popular in fashion-forward places like New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The implication is that LuLaRoe is not fashion forward, and people in middle America are not fashion forward – this is simply not the truth! The article failed to explore one of the number one things required of a LuLaRoe retailer, and that’s space. Carrying an inventory of 600+ pieces takes up a lot of room. In fact, it takes up a whole room of a house, or even several rooms. Space in the metropolises of New York, LA and San Francisco comes at a high price, and if you have it, you probably aren’t seeking a LuLaRoe business opportunity.

This summer I had a pop-up in downtown Los Angeles. I bought 3 boxes, sent them to my mom’s house in central California, and drove them down to La La Land. I was so nervous, because not only was the pop up downtown, it was in the super hip brewery-turned-artist-commune. I’m used to selling to moms in suburban North Carolina. While the comments were different (“Wow, this would be so cool to wear at Burning Man!”), the sales and enthusiasm were actually the same.

So why is LuLaRoe popular when other retailers are struggling?

LuLaRoe clothes are beautiful and appealing to women, no matter what they are doing, how old they are, where they live or what size they wear. The clothes are made thoughtfully, for real women who have to fill many different roles during their day.

After the popularity of my last LuLaRoe article, I received so many messages from customers telling me why they love LuLaRoe. It warms my heart, because it is such an honor to help women feel their best self no matter what size or situation they are in. If you’d like to feel and look your best this holiday season, I’d love it if you clicked here to join my LuLaRoe VIP group!

Pies are a thing of beauty, and it seems they are so hard to make. You have to do the crust just right. Maybe you want to par-bake the crust first, maybe no, who knows? The filling is typically pretty easy, but you have to do something fancy on top. Then you put it in the oven and just hope and pray nothing moves and everything browns evenly. Then the pie has to cool, and when it finally does, you cut into it with bated breath, and oh no. It’s all soupy inside. *sad face* Enter individual apple pies.

So y’all, you make these individual apple pies in a cupcake pan. It’s awesome, because you probably already have one, and also because people think it’s the most adorable thing they’ve every thing. Everyone will be taking selfies with their little cupcake-sized pie. They are Instagramming this stuff. You are a rockstar.

Truth time: It’s not the easiest thing to make, but you can make it in advance. Actually, you should make it in advance because these babies need to cool. You can even make these individual apple pies in advance, twice. You can make the crust and filling and form it all in the cupcake pan, and freeze it. Then you can thaw the pre-cooked pies and bake them.

Oh yeah, this is dairy-free (parve, for my Hebrew homies), you can make other fillings if you so desire and perfectly it’s acceptable to serve with your kosher turkey.

Peel core and chop apples into 1/2inch cubed pieces and toss with some lemon juice.

Combine sugars, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a small saucepan. Pour in water and stir until incorporated. Bring mixture to a gentle boil on medium heat for 3 minutes stirring frequently. Once mixture is thickened slightly, add apples and toss bringing he mixture to a gentle boil once again. Reduce the head to low and simmer for 10 minutes or until the apples are tender.

Take mixture off heat and allow it to cool slightly.

Assembly

Roll dough from center outward into a circle.

Cut (12) 3.5-4" circles with a cookie cutter or rim of a glass/bowl. Place each disk into each muffin tin cavity, pressing them into the bottom and up the sides. Fill with apple pie filling about 2/3 to the top.

Cut (12) more 3.5-4" circles with a cookie cutter or rim of a glass/bowl. Place those circles over top each pie, and pinch the edges. Then cut slits on the top to vent.

Brush the tops of the apple pies with egg wash, sprinkle them with some sugar and bake for 15-17 minutes or until tops are lightly golden and cooked through.

Many of you know that until recently, I’ve taken some time off from my blog to run my LuLaRoe business. Over that time there has been a lot of changes to the company and a lot of news – some of it not so flattering. There are a few things about LuLaRoe that I’d like you to know.

1. LuLaRoe is not a pyramid scheme.

Wait, what? It’s true that LuLaRoe has a downline structure, and it’s true that sponsors make commissions off of their downline sales, but that’s not the whole story. To collect a commission, a mentor, coach, trainer or sponsor must sell a certain amount of pieces per month, and his/her team must also sell a certain amount of pieces per month. In other words, everyone needs to sell the clothes, and those in leadership must demonstrate their prowess by meeting a certain standard. In my opinion, it’s best to think of LuLaRoe as a franchise. I have a small business. I buy clothes at wholesale and sell them at retail.

2. I am a big girl, and I wasn’t duped by anyone.

I knew joining LuLaRoe was a business risk. And here’s a little secret. I signed up for LuLaRoe before I even tried on a stitch of the clothing. I was looking for a business opportunity, and I kept seeing friends in my newsfeed actively looking for retailers. No one pressured me into become a retailer. I actively sought out my sponsor and asked about her experience. After a lot of calculation, I decided to take the plunge.

3. I am not trying to recruit you.

I heard a statistic several months ago that over 70% of LuLaRoe retailers do not have a downline. In fact, if you’d like to become a LuLaRoe retailer, I can direct you to some wonderful sponsors, but it’s just not on my list right now. I’m a mom. I have a full-time job on top of my LuLaRoe business. My sponsor pours so much time and attention into my business, I don’t know if I could offer the same to someone else.

4. I would rather you bring me a new customer than buy something you don’t love.

LuLaRoe clothing has the power to make women feel beautiful. When you buy something from me that you love and wear it around town, you are the best marketing I could ask for. Just be sure to tell everyone who compliments you who you bought it from.

5. I don’t love every print either.

You guys, I have actually opened a box and cried because I didn’t like what I got. There was one specific piece that I thought was the ugliest thing I had ever seen. That weekend, I went to a pop-up and the hostess picked up that item and fell in love. And you know what? It looked great on her. Not all prints are for everyone, but all prints are for someone.

6. Adding a new style or capsule is a huge investment.

Retailers curate their inventory based on what sells. To add a style means buying (and paying for, up front) at least 5 items in 7 different sizes, and I don’t want that inventory to sit around – it needs to move! Same goes for capsules and the like. I spend a lot of time calculating the risk of taking on something new, as does any retailer. That said, if there is something specific you are looking for in a style I don’t carry, I would love to help you find it!

7. I don’t understand why you shop the supersized groups.

I recently watched a live sale with over a thousand viewers. The retailer wasn’t even wearing LuLaRoe, and it was the most chaotic scene. So many people competing to claim items I had just sitting here in my house. There was nothing about the live video or the retailer that was any different than my lives, she just has a lot of customers. Good for her! But seriously, there are so many retailers who are going to offer a better, less stressful shopping experience.

8. If I don’t have what you want in stock, I can probably find it for you.

LuLaRoe retailers are connected, especially when it comes to swapping inventory. I have access to hundreds of thousands of pieces each week. I love going the extra mile for my loyal customers. Tell me what you’re looking for and the size, and unless it’s a truly sought-after unicorn (tie-dye pink dipped Amelia anyone?) or solid black, I can probably get it for you.

9. I’m my own best customer.

I’m not kidding when I say that LuLaRoe changed my life. When I had my son, I was so lost about who I was supposed to be, except I needed to be comfortable. I literally thought to myself “I guess I’m giving up on ever looking good again.” Today, I not only dress up, I do my hair and makeup. I wear jewelry! I’m feeling more fabulous than I ever have in my life, and it’s as simple as clothes that are comfortable and flatter my real mom-bod.

10. It’s a full-time job, and not everyone is cut out for it.

As with anything, there are good retailers and not so good retailers. There are people who were ready to own a small business and people who weren’t. Some people have been wildly successful, but most people are hustling for every sale. And that’s ok! Retail is a long-game business. It takes time to curate your inventory, learn your customers and then evolve as fashion and social media and customers change. But make no mistake, you gotta WERK.

I love this business. I love my customers. It would honor me to serve you this holiday season with your LuLaRoe wishlist. To join my group, click this link!

Is there anything better than a warm cinnamon roll? And what else could be more appropriate during these divine Autumn days then pumpkin cinnamon rolls? Autumn in North Carolina is a childhood dream come true. Leaves, smells, scarves and pumpkin everything make my heart happy. After living here a while, I realize that autumn is so much more than a California girl’s seasonal dreams. The humidity and the mosquitoes go away. That means more time outside with your family, more memories to make.

While pumpkin-flavored everything has become an American joke, for baked goods, pumpkin, and really kind of squash, is excellent for baking. The challenge of any baker is keep your flour bombs moist. Squash not only keeps things moist, it helps you cut down on the amount of flour, butter and other oils you may need.

Try to resist – I dare you! It’s holiday time, and it’s okay to indulge every once in a while, right? Might as well get your sugar high from something homemade and gives you the warm fuzzies. Yep, I’m talking about pumpkin cinnamon rolls.

Things have been so different at our house this year. Lots of ups and downs. I haven’t had the time or frame of mind to come back to the things that make me happy. Making these kinds of dishes is part of who I am. It’s so strange how hard it is to get up and do the thing that makes you happy. Sometimes I’m just searching for alone time or outside time. The thought of putting a dish together seems like too much. But when I do, I feel better about myself and about the day and about whatever else I’m doing. To me, these pics are so much more about food. They are about loving myself.

Save this pumpkin cinnamon rolls recipe for later, and pin the pic below!

Starting at a long edge, roll up dough like a jelly roll, then cut crosswise into 15 pieces. Place pieces in greased 9x13 baking dish cut-side up, spaced evenly. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let rise in warmed oven (or other warm place) until buns are almost doubled in size, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake buns until golden brown and topping is bubbling around sides of pan, about 17-20 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack.

For the Glaze

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add confectioners' sugar, a pinch of salt, and 2 tablespoons milk and beat until combined. Add a little bit of milk is glaze is too think to drizzle, or spread glaze with knife. Spread the glaze over slightly cooled rolls.

Whelp, I’ve never done this before, and I don’t plan on making it a habit, but I’m reaching out to our family, friends and readers to let you know we found ourselves in quite a pickle. We are in need of your help.

My husband and I have been driving around two very small cars: a Nissan Versa and a Scion TC. Both are older, but completely paid for; and while not ideal for our family, they were adequate for getting us from A to B. The Nissan was our “family car” as it had four doors, and the Scion was our “commuter car,” because it is a coupe. A week ago, my husband was in an accident while driving the Nissan Versa. He is fine, but today we learned the Versa didn’t survive. It was totaled. We are left with the Scion to fit our entire family. See pic below of the Scion barely containing my LuLaRoe inventory.

Forget LuLaRoe for second. The Scion TC CANNOT be our family car. Our son is still rear-facing in his car seat, and getting him into the car seat is an athletic feat. Actually, I almost find it easier to get him into the car seat from the trunk. Also, there isn’t enough room for the car seat in the back and a passenger to sit up front. Long story short, our plan is to trade in the Scion and use the money from our totaled car to go down to one family minivan.

One problem: after using the funds from our two cars, to purchase even the most modest of minivans, we are about $20K short. Don’t worry. I’m not setting up a Go Fund Me page or asking anyone to donate blood. Nothing like it. You see, my husband and I have this great LuLaRoe business. For those who don’t know, LuLaRoe makes modest, comfortable women’s clothing that looks great. I mean, look at these pics of me below. Adorable, right?

My inventory doesn’t live in a catalogue or on a website. It lives in my house and is unique to me! My husband and I have had a blast taking care of our customers, and we need to expand that customer base. You can help us do that work toward our new family car in the following ways:

2. Host an in-home pop-up! I bring my entire inventory to your house, and you earn a free pair of leggings and one free item of your choice for every 10 sold. In-home pop-ups are an amazing opportunity to have a lot of fun and earn free clothes. And believe it or not, I am very skilled at getting my entire inventory in my coupe. I can travel anywhere in NC and southern VA. [Fill out this form to let us know your interest!]

3. Host an online pop-up! Live outside of NC? The internet can bring us together. You invite at least 50 of your friends to your online party and they shop the albums in my VIP Group. You earn a free pair of leggings and 10% of all sales to use toward a purchase. While online pop-ups aren’t typically as successful as in-home pop-ups, they are still an excellent chance to earn free clothes! [Fill out this form to let us know your interest!]

4. Tell your family and friends by sharing this blog post. If they love Lula, by shopping with us they will be helping to support a family who has been really struggling to get ahead.

Friends, I’ve been coveting wood watches for a long time. Of course, I wanted a wood watch for myself, but when JORD approached me about writing a post for Father’s Day, I knew my hubby would look even better in this watch inspired by nature! JORD watches are the perfect Father’s Day gift for the favorite father in your life, whether that’s your own dad or your child’s dad.

If you don’t know already, I couldn’t have picked out a better dad for my son. Matt is a stay-at-home dad. He’s endlessly patient, full of energy and has the most amazing relationship with our son. In fact, all I hear is “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy.” Hearing “Mommy” is definitely a special occasion around here, but I wouldn’t change it. Daddies are so important.

JORD watches come in this cube-like box, that are perfect for wrapping up. Inside is another cube-shaped wooden box with a special cloth and brush for keeping the watch clean.

Then once you open the wooden box… SQUEAL!!! So, so pretty!

I chose the Navy and Walnut watch from the Reece collection. It’s slim, but still substantial, and gets a lot of compliments.

And how handsome is this guy?! And he’s only made more handsome with this great watch from JORD. I seriously love it. The perfect gift for the best dad our amazing son could have asked for.

Okay, now for the good part. Jord has asked me to do a giveaway! The winner will get a $100 gift code to the JORD site, and every single person who enters will get a $25 gift code to the JORD site. Isn’t that a great deal?